but this year's annual new year's day swim takes on a special significance after superstorm sandy badly damaged coney island and its famous boardwalk. money raised from the swim will go to a nonprofit called coney recovers. >> what we're aiming to do with the funds raised today in partnership with the polar bear club is help out not for profits in the area. >> reporter: as for these arctic athletes, each has their own strategy for diving into the frigid waters. >> you've got to run in place to get warmed up, and we like to love and hug and kiss and get all warm and fuzzy and then we jump right in. >> reporter: after a few minutes of psychological gamesmanship, it's time. this army of self-proclaimed polar bears runs towards its nemesis, the ocean. >> it's a lot better if you dunk your head in really fast. it's like ripping a band-aid off. >> reporter: another year, another plunge. >> every day is a new year. yeah! >> reporter: in coney island, matt cozar, channel 7, eyewitness news. >> he wins the best outfit. dressed up like a scottish bagpiper. >> now the polar bear club, it's the old